Witney Gazette's parent company offers grants to charities

CHARITIES in West Oxfordshire are being invited to bid for grants of up to £10,000 from the Witney Gazette.

Our parent company, Gannett Media, is offering donations of between £5,000 and £10,000 though its charitable arm, the Gannett Foundation.

Any project which brings lasting benefits to its community is eligible for a grant.

Previous winners of grants include Charlbury charity Special Effect, which uses video games and technology to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities.

The charity, based at Cornbury Park, was given a £7,000 grant in 2012 so it could buy an Eyegaze device. The equipment allows children with severe disabilities to use a computer and play games just by moving their eyes.

Witney Gazette editor Simon O’Neill said: “We support registered charities that have projects which take a creative approach to fundamental issues, such as education and neighbourhood improvements, economic development, youth development, local problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged or disabled people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.

“We value projects that bring lasting benefits to communities served by our local newspapers and websites.

Promoted stories

“While preference may be given to ideas which create a durable legacy for the community, we will consider single events or projects of limited duration that otherwise meet our criteria.”

He added: “We entertain applications of any size or ambition, though typically our grants are made for substantial projects which require and merit awards of between £5,000 and £10,000.

“We will consider much more modest applications as well, but we actively encourage adventurous projects on a larger scale.

“We are able to join with other contributors to support elements of larger projects, though we prefer to be in a position of making a donation which will fund a project entirely or which constitutes the final instalment to complete a project.”

Final decisions in respect of the value of the funding will be made by the foundation trustees, based on the evidence submitted.

They will favour projects that demonstrate good planning, oversight and financial responsibility.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standardards Organisations's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a compaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here